On June 10, Republicans on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation-- House Bill 1808 (Mackenzie-R-Lehigh)-- that was amended to focus the bill on recycling post-use polymers that are not mixed with household garbage.

The original version of the bill would have exempted a proposed 1,600 ton/day garbage processing facility from DEP regulations.  DEP is now supportive of the bill after working with stakeholders on the amendment.

The amended bill now goes to the full House for consideration.  Click Here for the amendment.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie on behalf of a waste company in Berks County that plans to construct a 1,600 ton/day waste processing facility that would remove plastics for recycling.

At an information meeting held by the Committee on September 24 about the bill, Joe D’Ascenzo, Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of ReFined Plastics LLC said the company would bring in unsorted municipal waste, process the waste to remove plastics then use an advanced pyrolysis and gasification technology to turn the plastics into “virgin grade” plastic pellets for use as feedstock by other industries.

The balance of the waste would be sorted for other recyclables and the remaining waste converted to fuel to power the facility.

D’Ascenzo said they would bring in about 1,600 tons of waste per day in rail cars or trucks and convert it into 150 tons of plastic pellets to be sold on the open market.  He said the technology they would use to make the pellets is oxygen free and emission free.

The King of Prussia-based company told Cumru Township in August of 2018 they plan to use the decommissioned former Met-Ed Titus Station power plant at 296 Poplar Neck Road, Birdsboro in Cumru Township near Reading for their plant.

The proposed plant site is adjacent to the Western Berks Landfill that is authorized to take in 1,000 tons per day of municipal waste and borders, for a short distance, the Schuylkill River Trail.

D’Ascenzo said the facility may employ approximately 160 people when the plant is at full capacity.  Read more here.

A second bill on the agenda-- House Bill 2219 (James-R-Venango)-- that would add a representative of the coal refuse energy industry to DEP’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board was delayed and will be considered later.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-783-1707 or sending email to: dmetcalf@pahousegop.com. Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net.

Related Articles:

-- House Republicans Move Bill Taking Away DEP’s Authority To Enact Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants

-- Senate Republicans Move Bills To Block Regulations Because They Have Too Many Words; Promote Expensive 3rd Party Permit Reviews

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Discuss Keep PA Beautiful Litter Study, Food Waste Recycling June 16

[Posted: June 10, 2020]

6/15/2020